There’s a new buzz floating around social media among NASCAR fans regarding the Monster Energy girls. The energy drink company, who gained the entitlement rights to the NASCAR premier series this offseason, has a fleet of women who travel all over the world to promote its brand at numerous events each year.
When NASCAR and Monster Energy made it official in Las Vegas during Champion’s week – one of the promises on behalf of the energy drink company was to make the sport more “edgy” and attract the younger audience.
There are some race fans who like having the girls around while others do not approve.
Many cited that having the girls in victory lane and around the track is pointless and awkward. Others also state that they shouldn’t be around the sport because young children are either watching or attending the events with their families.
The other side of the spectrum argues that there have always been girls involved in some shape or form over the years. Winston, who sponsored NASCAR’s premier series from 1971 through 2003, had their fleet of women involved in numerous ways in the sport. Nextel/Sprint, a cell phone provider that sponsored the series from 2004/2008 up until last season, had their version of the trophy girls.
Trophy girls have long been apart of auto racing. In the 1960s Linda Vaughn, one of the most prominent victory lane trophy girls in NASCAR, one who arguably would raise eyebrows today, started a trend that has continued to this day. When Winston became the first major corporate entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series, they introduced the Miss Winston girls to promote the Winston brand.
The first Miss Winston would be Marilyn Green, who would later go on to open Marilyn’s and hire Winston’s remaining Miss Winston’s along with their predecessors for Nextel and Sprint in later years.
Many would also argue that this is no different than the NFL having cheerleaders along the sidelines for its games. As for the NASCAR realm, Alan Kuliwicki, who drove a car sponsored by Hooters, had its own girls at the track promoting the fast-food restaurant chain back in the day.
These are just some of the comments we received today from NASCAR fans:
Missy Edwards: “Makes no difference to me. People say they are not properly clothed for young children. If you take your children to the beach or a pool, the girls at either place are covered less”
Nicole Brumm: “It’s not the look that gets me, I just feel like they are incredibly pointless in victory lane right now. I hope Monster has something up there sleeves more to promote or give some branding too the position. It’s just a bit awkward to me right now.”
Alex Drayton: “I don’t mind them at all. I don’t see what the big deal is with their outfits. The NFL and NBA cheerleaders’ outfits are more revealing than the Monster girls but nobody bats an eye at them…”
Tanya Adams Kelley: “Need more clothing. There are still young children watching…”
@mwh72f4: “@NASCAR_BRETT BTW, I’ve seen female fans wear more revealing outfits.”
Tweet us your thoughts on this subject @SpeedwayDigest and @NASCAR_BRETT.
Brett Winningham and Steven Wilson contributed to this report.
About Me: Brett has been following the sport of NASCAR since the beginning of the 2006 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Since Brett was 13, he has had a passion of chasing a job in sports that not many get the opportunity of doing. He has been in the NASCAR media since the middle of the 2010 season. Since then, he has been a part of many racing podcast shows to improve his talents. He has written for racingonfuel.com and theracingwheel.com. Currently, Brett writes for motorsportsnat.com and TracksideChatter.com. You can find him on twitter @NASCAR_Brett.
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